Editing Streaming media (section)

=== Greenhouse gas emissions ===
{{main|Greenhouse gas emissions#Digital services}}
The net [[greenhouse gas emissions]] from streaming music were estimated at between 0.2 and 0.35&nbsp;million metric tons [[Co2eq|CO2eq]] (between {{Convert|0.2 and 0.35|e6t|disp=out}}) per year in the [[Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States|United States]], by a 2019 study.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/environmental-impact-streaming-music-835220/|title=Is Streaming Music Dangerous to the Environment? One Researcher Is Sounding the Alarm|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=23 May 2019|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> This was an increase from emissions in the pre-digital music period, which were estimated at "{{Convert|0.14|e6t|sp=us}} in 1977, 0.136 million ({{Convert|0.136|e6t|disp=out}}) in 1988, and 0.157&nbsp;million ({{Convert|0.157|e6t|disp=out}}) in 2000."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_643297_en.html|title=Music consumption has unintended economic and environmental costs|date=8 April 2019|publisher=The University of Glasgow|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803131017/https://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_643297_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this is far less than other everyday activities such as eating. For example [[Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States|greenhouse gas emissions in the United States]] from beef cattle ([[Burping|burping of ruminants]] only - not including their [[manure]]) were {{Convert|129|e6t|e6LT e6ST|abbr=none|sp=us}} in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer {{!}} US EPA |url=https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/#iagriculture/entericfermentation/allgas/animal/all |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=cfpub.epa.gov |language=en |archive-date=9 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309221056/https://cfpub.epa.gov/ghgdata/inventoryexplorer/#iagriculture/entericfermentation/allgas/animal/all |url-status=live }}</ref>

A 2021 study claimed that, based on the amount of data transmitted, one hour of streaming or videoconferencing "emits {{Convert|150-1,000|g|4=0|sp=us}} of carbon dioxide ... requires {{Convert|2-12|L|4=1|sp=us}} of water and demands a land area adding up to about the size of an [[iPad Mini]]." The study suggests that turning the camera off during video calls can reduce the greenhouse gas and water use footprints by 96%, and that an 86% reduction is possible by using standard definition rather than high definition when streaming content with apps such as [[Netflix]] or [[Hulu]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Turn off that camera during virtual meetings, environmental study says: Simple tips to go green with your internet use during a pandemic|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210114134033.htm|access-date=2021-01-16|website=ScienceDaily|language=en|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117025114/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210114134033.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Obringer |first1=Renee |last2=Rachunok |first2=Benjamin |last3=Maia-Silva |first3=Debora |last4=Arbabzadeh |first4=Maryam |last5=Nateghi |first5=Roshanak |last6=Madani |first6=Kaveh |title=The overlooked environmental footprint of increasing Internet use |journal=Resources, Conservation and Recycling |date=April 2021 |volume=167 |pages=105389 |doi=10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105389|bibcode=2021RCR...16705389O |s2cid=233072553 }}</ref> However, another study estimated a relatively low amount of {{Convert|36|g/hour|oz/hour|abbr=off}}, and concluded that watching a Netflix video for half an hour emitted only the same amount as driving a gasoline-fuelled car for about {{Convert|100|m|sp=us}}, so not a significant amount.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The carbon footprint of streaming video: fact-checking the headlines – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/commentaries/the-carbon-footprint-of-streaming-video-fact-checking-the-headlines |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=IEA |date=11 December 2020 |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321235339/https://www.iea.org/commentaries/the-carbon-footprint-of-streaming-video-fact-checking-the-headlines |url-status=live }}</ref>

One way to decrease greenhouse gas emissions associated with streaming music is to make [[data center]]s [[Carbon neutrality|carbon neutral]] by converting to electricity produced from [[Renewable energy|renewable sources]]. On an individual level, the purchase of a physical CD may be more environmentally friendly if it is to be played more than 27 times.<ref name=EnvironmentalImpact>{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/the-environmental-impact-of-music-digital-records-cds-analysed-108942|title=The environmental impact of music: digital, records, CDs analysed|last1=McKay|first1=Deirdre|last2=George|first2=Sharon|date=10 January 2019|website=The Conversation|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803131015/http://theconversation.com/the-environmental-impact-of-music-digital-records-cds-analysed-108942|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=March 2022|reason=generally manufacturing physical stuff emits more ghg than virtual so seems unlikely}} Another option for reducing energy use is downloading the music for offline listening to reduce the need for streaming over distance.<ref name=EnvironmentalImpact /> The Spotify service has a built-in local cache to reduce the necessity of repeating song streams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gigaom.com/2012/09/12/streaming-media-could-have-larger-carbon-footprint-than-plastic-discs/|title=Streaming media could have larger carbon footprint than plastic discs|last=Andrews|first=Robert|date=12 September 2012|website=gigaom.com|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803132527/https://gigaom.com/2012/09/12/streaming-media-could-have-larger-carbon-footprint-than-plastic-discs/|url-status=live}}</ref>